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Starting warm up.

by thatguitarguy

18 Jun 2011
Views: 41580

when I started guitar I really didnt have any structure when it came to practice let alone a warm up to start my practice with. So I looked around on all kinds of sites and forums to see how others warmed up and tis is what I came up with.

left hand warm ups



First the trills. In my opinion trills are the best way to loosen up your fingers. They are also a great way to build up muscles in your fingers to decrease fatigue. I do them like so.
h=hamer on, p=pull off


e-------------------------------1h2p1--------------------------------------------|
B-------------------------1h2p1-------2h3p2--------------------------------------|
G-------------------1h2p1-------------------2h3p2--------------------------------|
D-------------1h2p1-------------------------------2h3p2-----------------------etc|
A-------1h2p1-------------------------------------------2h3p2-------------etc----|
E-1h2p1-------------------------------------------------------2h3p2-3h4p3--------|

try to make it all the way until your index finger hits the 12th fret. But if it hurts STOP!
after doing that do it again with your ring and pinky finger. You will find that your fingers feel loos and ready to play.

next comes finger stretching

This will help you stretch out your fingers so that you can make some of those more intense cords. This one starts with your index finger on the 12th fret and looks like this.


e-----------------------------------------------------------------|
B-15-15-15-15-14-14-14--------------------------------------------|
G-14-14-14-13-13-13-13--------------------------------------------|
D-13-13-12-12-12-12-11--------------------------------------------|
A-12-11-11-11-11-10-10-etc-etc------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------------|

keep going until your index finger is on the first fret or until you cant go any further. As the frets get farther apart you will stretch your fingers out more.

chord changing

This next one will help you move your hands easier when changing chords.


e---------4-1-5-2-------------|
B-----4-1-3-2-4-3-5-2---------|
G-4-1-3-2-2-3-3-4-4-3---------|
D-3-2-2-3-1-4-2-5-3-4---------|
A-2-3-1-4---------2-5---------|
E-1-4-----------------etc-etc-|

Go all the way until you your index finger gets down to the 12th fret and then go back to the first fret.

moving up and down the neck

This one is to help move up and down the neck and keep the location of octaves are fresh in your mind.


e-------------------------------6-7-8-8-7-6---------------------------------------|
B-------------------------6-7-8-------------8-7-6---------------------------------|
G-------------------3-4-5-------------------------5-4-3---------------------------|
D-------------3-4-5-------------------------------------5-4-3---------------------|
A-------1-2-3-------------------------------------------------3-2-1---------------|
E-1-2-3-------------------------------------------------------------3-2-1-etc-etc-|

with this one go as far as you can on your guitar with the lat finger on the high e string and then come back to where you started.

Right hand



right and left hand synching exercise

This one is simple. it is just chromatics going up and down the fret board. like so.


e-----------------------------------------1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2---------------------------------|
B---------------------------------1-2-3-4-----------------5-4-3-2-------------------------|
G-------------------------1-2-3-4---------------------------------5-4-3-2-----------------|
D-----------------1-2-3-4-------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2---------|
A---------1-2-3-4-----------------------------------------------------------------etc-----|
E-1-2-3-4-----------------------------------------------------------------------------etc-|

the first time you do this one start with a down stroke and continue on with alternate picking. Then do it the same way only this time start on a down stroke. This will make sure that you are ready for both inside and outside picking. Go all the way to the 12th fret and then go back to the first.

alternate picking exercise

this one is exactly like the last one except you only use three fingers instead of all four (so instead of 1-2-3-4 change it to 1-2-3) This makes it so that, if done with a strict alternate picking style, You alternate inside and outside picking. remember after starting with an up stroke do it again but this time start with a down stroke.

sweep picking

this time we try sweeps. like so.
u= up stroke d= down stroke


ddd uuu ddd uuu
e--------------------------|
B--------------------------|
G--------------------------|
D---3-3------4-4-----------|
A--2---2----3---3----------|
E-1-----1--2-----2-etc-etc-|

do this on every group of three strings.

Right and left hand warm up



String skipping exercise

This one is like the alternate picking exercise except you skip the string. like so.


e-------------------------------------------1-2-3--3-2-1-------------------------------|
B-------------------------------1-2-3--------------------------3-2-1-------------------|
G-------------------1-2-3-------------1-2-3--------------3-2-1-------------3-2-1-------|
D-------1-2-3-------------1-2-3--------------------------------------3-2-1-------------|
A-------------1-2-3--------------------------------------------------------------3-2-1-|
E-1-2-3--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

same drill as the alternate picking one. all the way up, all the way back, once starting in an up stroke one starting with a down stroke.

Conclusion



Hopefully this helps. I know I wish I had a thing like this when I started. If there is anything I missed post it in a comment because Im sure I missed something. Have fun.




Comments:

01
06.20.2011
  Guitarslinger124

If you want some more warm ups, check out my lesson called, "FINGER WORKOUTS!!".

02
06.20.2011
  GuitarGeorge

I should start doing these exercises... As it is now I have minor issues with aches in my left hand palm, certainly don't want that to increase :/

03
06.20.2011
  gshredder2112

@tgg Haha you sound like my dad.
you-(I wish i had these when i started)
dad-( I wish we had video games when i was a kid)
But seriuosly,nice practice routine,looks fun too.

\M/(*-+)
gs2112

04
06.20.2011
  thatguitarguy

I forgot one of the more important ones. must edit.

05
06.20.2011
  thatguitarguy

Im glad you all like it. ^_^

06
11.09.2012
  klobchar

I gotta check some videos to know how to hammer on and pull off appropriately. It sounds like I'm playing a chaos pad here.

07
12.19.2012
  notHendrix67

thanks for the info its very helpful to a newbie like me.

08
12.19.2012
  thatguitarguy

good to hear that its doing some good amongst the other great lessons on this site.



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